Monday, December 31, 2012

Best of 2012 | News, Features & Portraits

"U.S. Army soldiers carry the flag-draped transfer case containing the remains of U.S. Army Maj. Thomas E. Kennedy, during a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base, on August 10, 2012 in Dover, Delaware. Kennedy, who was from West Point, N.Y., was killed alongside two other American troops while serving in the U.S. Army in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Kennedy was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo."

In 2012, I found myself covering much more sports and than news, features and portraits.

While I am naturally drawn to the latter, I am often hired for my sports shooting since moving back east. The problem with that is that I'm often marketed as a sports photographer, while I label myself as simply a photojournalist because of my versatility.

With that in mind, when I do get a call for a news, feature or portrait assignment - I get eager to walk out the door. One of my strengths is the ability to seek out pictures in any environment. Whether on a news assignment or not, I am able to find and make something of nothing.

Of the few non-sports assignments I shot this year, three main stories pushed me to do exactly that. Those three assignments, Penn State scandal (which is still technically sports related), life on 'Smith Island' and a small amount of political shoots challenged me to foster relationships, see beauty in the quieter, sometimes mundane moments, and have a keen observation of daily life.

Hoping to shoot more meaningful stories like the aforementioned in 2013 that push me out of my comfort zone and challenge my vision.